Putter Optimization – It Works!

Most of us, I believe, either buy a putter in a golf store or sometimes work with a clubfitter to get a putter made for us. When we do this, if we are fortunate, we get a putter that is the right length, lie, and putter loft for the way we set up to putt.

But what about the FEEL of the putter that we use? Most clubfitters and teaching professionals expect that the right range of swingweight for putters is something in the range of C8 to D6. Of course, how would you know if your putter is in that range of swingweight. You pretty much have to hope that you “like” the feel of the putter that you buy….or you simply adapt to the feel of that putter.

There is now, in fact, a way to truly optimize the feel of your putter so that you can find the putter feel that best works for you and that optimizes your ability to putt well.

This past weekend I did a successful Putter Optimization with Des Mahoney, the Teaching Pro at the Centenial Teaching and Fitting Center – Des and I partner at the Center.

We use the Tour Lock Pro “Opti Vibe” weights to do this optimization. I have 50 and 100 grams weights that can be inserted down the shaft of the putter, and we used a 12 gram counterweight in the butt end of the putter. I can insert the 50 and 100 gram weights between 3 and 12 inches down the shaft. Varying this weight and the insertion depth of the weight can significantly change the feel of the putter.

We set up a putting station on an outside putting green – 12 feet from the hole, straight putt. Des hit four putts, first with no weight, then with different weights and different weight insertion depths into the shaft. In the outdoor tests, we identified that either the 100 gram or 50 gram weight 3 inches down the shaft provided improved putting feel.

What was really great about doing this with Des is that he is not ABOUT to make a change in his putter configuration unless it provides better results. So if something works with him, you can be pretty darn sure that it is a real improvement.

Later in the day we did some more putting tests inside the Centenial Teaching and Fitting Center. Des identified that using a 50 gram weight 4 inches down the shaft seemed to provide the best putting results for him.

Des played golf on Sunday and wants to consider a slight weight adjustment – perhaps moving the internal weight to 5 inches down the shaft so that he can “feel” the putter head more. But overall he has told me that he loves the way his putter now feels.

So yes….we are still working to find the best way to optimize the feel of his putter. But this in itself shows that Putter Optimization is Real……..there is an approach, using the Opti Vibe weight system, to change the feel of a putter for a player and provide real improvement.

If any of you reading this post are interested in doing a Free Putter Optimization session with me let me know and we can schedule it. Within about 30 minutes I believe that we can find a weight configuration that can improve the feel of how you putt – and what if you simply made one or two more putts a round……!

Tony